Electrophotographic portable camera

ABSTRACT

In an electrophotographic type portable camera a flexible photosensitive film is positioned at an exposure frame to receive an image exposure, and a flexible transfer paper having a dielectric film surface is transported into contacting relationship with the photosensitive film. A photosensitive film charge device is detachably mounted to the camera body and includes a supply of photosensitive film and a pressure plate biased to press the photosensitive film to the exposure frame. The photosensitive film and the transfer paper are pressed into contacting relationship by an electrically conductive roller to transfer the latent image from the film to the paper.

United States Patent [1 1 Kushima Nov. 20, 1973 ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PORTABLE CAMERA Inventor: Teizo Kushima, Osaka, Japan Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha,

Minami-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 Appl. No.: 201,647

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 25, 1970 Japan 45/117445 US. Cl. 355/3 R, 355/16 Int. Cl G03g 15/22 Field of Search 355/3, 16

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1972 Kintaro Yata et al. 355/3 3/1970 Uhlenberg 355/3 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Kenneth C. Hutchison Att0rney--Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures In an electrophotographic type portable camera a flexible photosensitive film is positioned at an exposure frame to receive an image exposure, and a flexible transfer paper having a dielectric film surface is transported into contacting relationship with the photosensitive film. A photosensitive film charge device is detachably mounted to the camera body and includes a supply of photosensitive film and a pressure plate biased to press the photosensitive film to the exposure frame. The photosensitive film and the transfer paper are pressed into contacting relationship by an electrically conductive roller to transfer the latent image from the film to the paper.

11/1970 Pundsack et aL, 355/3 ELECTROPHOT OGRAPHIC PORTABLE CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to a photographic camera using an electrophotographic method based on an electrostatic latent image transfer system.

Previously, duplicating apparatus of various types using the electrophotographic method have been proposed on account of the advantage that positive visible images can be obtained soon after exposure.

One typical example uses the Xerographic process; however, in this method a heavy, high voltage DC electric power source is required, and after a photosensitive plate is exposed with this device it still should be subsequently sent to a developing device in a dark place. Therefore, the developing device should be built into the camera, or as in cameras making use of conventional photosensitive film, the photosensitive films which have been exposed should be stored in the camera and then removed from the camera and developed.

Such characteristics require the camera to be large and heavy and, accordingly, inconvenient to carry.

Therefore, such an electrophotographic portable camera has not been produced.

However, recently small, light electrophotographic duplicators have been produced; therefore, there has been a strong demand to produce a so-called electrophotographic camera convenient to carry, like conventional cameras, which can readily copy books and the like or other objects disposed in a fixed position. However, even if a practical electrophotographic duplicator is small-sized and lightweight it is quite impossible to make it very portable because of its construction, and the copy obtained is a reduction copy and has poor resolution. Also, it is almost impossible to make a copy of anobject having half tones.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTlON One object of the present invention is to provide a novel electrophotographic camera which overcomes the prior drawbacks mentioned above and is portable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic portable camera making use of a flexible photosensitive film which is exchangeable even in the light and able to be used repeatedly for a long time, and in addition has excellent resolving power and is able to faithfully reproduce an object having half tones.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized electrophotographic portable camera which makes use of the TESl method, is capable of developing its copies in the light, and is not required to have a developing device built into the camera.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic camera small in volume and lightweight by use of a piezo-element high voltage generating means as a high voltage electric power charging source.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic portable camera provided with a means for removably accommodating an ex changeable photosensitive film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to attain the above-mentioned objects, the present invention relates to an electrophotographic portable camera provided with:

a supply spool and a take up spool for supplying and winding a flexible photosensitive film of high re-v solving power;

a pressure plate for pressing the photosensitive film against an exposure frame;

a means for transporting the film by a certain length;

a reciprocating corona discharge device to charge the photosensitive film in a position in front of the exposure frame;

a piezoelectric high voltage generating means provided as an electric power source for supplying a high voltage to the corona discharge device;

an image exposure means disposed in front of the corona discharge device and composed of an objective lens and shutter means;

a supply spool for holding a flexible transfer paper to which electrostatic latent images are transferred from the photosensitive film; and

a rubber roller and a conductive roller for bringing the photosensitive film and the transfer paper into contact with each other so as to transfer the electrostatic latent image from the photosensitive film to the transfer paper.

A feature of the present invention is that a flexible photosensitive film of high resolving power is used comprising a thin conductive evaporated film such as aluminum, a thin inorganic photo-semiconductive evaporated layer such as very thin non-crystalling Se, and an organic semiconductor coating layer such as PVK, on a flexible film base such as aluminum, alternatively comprising a conductive evaporated thin film such as aluminum, an inorganic semiconductor evaporated thin layer for forming a high commutating barrier on the boundary face with a conductive evaporated thin layer such as very thin non-crystalline Se, a highly sensitive inorganic photo-semiconductor evaporated thin layer such as very thin Se-Te, and an organic semiconductor coating layer such as PVK, on a flexible film aluminum base. Another alternative is a photosensitive film comprising an inorganic photo-semiconductor evaporated thin layer such as very thin non-crystalline Se, a highly sensitive inorganic photo-semiconductor evaporated thin layer such as very thin Se-Te formed into a mesh pattern different in sensitivity from the photo-semiconductor layer, and an organic semiconductor coating layer such as PVK, on a flexible film aluminum base. A further alternative is a photosensitive film comprising an inorganic semiconductor evaporated thin layer forming a high commutating barrier on the boundary face to a conductive evaporated thin layer such as very thin non-crystalling Se, a highly sensitive inorganic photo-semiconductive evaporated thin layer such as very thin Se-Te, and inorganic photosemiconductive evaporated thin layer such as very thin non-crystalline Se formed into a point pattern different in sensitivity from the photo-semiconductor layer, and an organic semiconductor coating layer such as PVK, on a flexible film aluminum base.

Further, the present invention makes use of a flexible transfer paper formed by coating a high dielectric thin film onto a paper base applied by a dielectric treatment.

By making use of such a photosensitive film and a transfer paper the present invention can provide a very clear copy of high contrast and of high resolving power and a clear copy which faithfully reproduces half tones free of background contamination. Additionally the transfer paper with an electronic latent image thereon can be removed from the camera in conjunction with a certain transporting operation of the photosensitive film. As a result there is no need to have a developing device in the main camera body, and accordingly the main camera body can be small-sized and lightened in weight.

Further, in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of a photosensitive film in the camera body, in the present invention the photosensitive film is held in a photosensitive film charge device detachable from the camera main body, and a pressure plate and a means for controlling a rubber roller provided in a transfer section are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1(A), (B),(C),(D), and (E) are respectively drawings showing a constructive example of a photosensitive film used in a camera in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the formation of a transfer paper used in a camera in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the essential portion of one embodiment of a camera in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the essential portion of a photosensitive film storage device in that embodiment.

FIGS. 5 (A) and (B) are respectively a side view and a perspective view showing one example of a portable liquid developing device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1 A-E show a flexible photosensitive film of high resolving power used in the present invention.

In FIG. 1 (A), photosensitive film P is so formed that for example on a flexible film base a, such as a polyester film, (lumiler) of 75p. thickness, thin Al layer b is evaporated as an electrode, and thereon very thin noncrystalline Se is evaporated to form a thin layer 0, and thereon there is coated an organic semiconductor coating layer d such as polyvinyl-carbazole (PVK) containing a little silicone. The uppermost layer, namely, layer d of PVK containing silicone, serves to retain electric charge and transmit positive holes; thin Se layer c serves to absorb light to generate electric charge carriers, and thin Al layer b functions to form a high commutating barrier on the boundary face with the Se layer to prevent positive holes from pouring into thin Se layer c.

When negative electric charges are put on the photosensitive film surface and exposed, positive holes generated on the thin Se layer 0 migrate into PVK layer d and are moved to the surface to neutralize electric charges; thereby an electrostatic latent image is formed; therefore a unique photosensitive film is obtained which has improved picture image concentration and contrast and is also very practical.

In FIG. 1 (B), as an intermediate film between PVK layer d of the photosensitive film and thin Se layer c, a thin evaporated layer e of Se-Te alloy is interposed; in this photosensitive film P shown in FIG. 1 (B), thin Se layer c absorbs no light and only functions to form a high commutating barrier on the boundary face with evaporated Al layer b to prevent positive holes from migrating thereinto. The quantity of Te mixed with the Se for thin evaporated layer e of Se-Te alloy ranges from 10 to 60 percent of the weight ratio, and thereby it is possible to obtain a photosensitive film with remarkably improved sensitivity.

In photosensitive film P shown in FIG. 1 (C), thin evaporated layer e of Se-Te alloy is formed into a mesh pattern or a grating making use of high mesh screen, for

example, of 200 to 400 mesh. In photosensitive film P shown in FIG. 1 (D), as an intermediate layer between PVK film d and thin evaporated layer e of Se-Te alloy another thin Se layer c is interposed and is formed into a mesh pattern or a grating in the same way as described above. These photosensitive films have a mesh resolving function by virtue of the difference of light decay characteristic due to the difference of sensitivity between thin Se layer 0 and thin evaporated layer e of Se-Te alloy. Thereby it is possible to obtain a photosensitive film used for reproducing half tones and of high resolving power.

In these photosensitive films P described above, the Se layer and the Se-Te alloy layer are thin layers less than 1 p. in thickness, and the PVK film is of a macromolecule material. With respect to the Al layer and the Se evaporated layer, after the Al layer is exposed to a glow discharge and given a forces oxidation by ion bombardment, even though the photosensitive film, formed into a belt shape by a vacuum evaporation of the Se, is put over two rollers of 30 mm width and turned at a speed of I m/s for a continuous 1,000 hours, the Al layer and the Se layer of the photosensitive film do not separate. Therefore, it is possible to use it either as a belt type film or as a roll type film.

After photosensitive film P is charged and an electrostatic latent image is formed thereon by applying a picture image exposure onto paper g of 25 to p. thickness and having a conductive treatment as shown in FIG. 2, a transfer paper T is closely adhered thereto. The transfer paper is formed by coating a high dielectric material such as polyethylene, wax, alkyd resin, cellulose acetate, or epoxide, and resin film h such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate inter-polymer of 2 to 10 p. thickness. After pressing them into contact with each other from the back by means of a grounded roller the transfer paper is developed with liquid, and thereby it is possible to obtain a better picture image than in a copy obtained by prior duplicators.

In photosensitive film P shown in FIG. 1 (B), we could obtain by experiment a very clear visible image which is free of ground contamination and of high contact and of high resolving power (over 50 pieces/mm) on transfer paper T, by charging with more than 1,000V and applying a picture image projection of several Lux-Sec. In photosensitive film P shown in FIGS. 1 (C) and (D) we could also obtain by experiment a very clear visible image which is quite free of background comtamination and faithful in reproducing half tones on transfer paper T, by charging from 800 to 1,000 V and applying a picture image projection of 3 to 10 Lux-Sec.

For any of the respective photosensitive films'P described above, as shown in FIG. 1 (E) a conductive layer f, such as an Al evaporation film, an Al foil film, or a Cul resin layer containing carbon powder, is formed on thin Al layer b on one side or both sides of the photosensitive film in order that thin Al layer b may be grounded.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, one embodiment of an electrophotographic portable camera in accordance with the present invention will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 3 shows the whole outline ofa camera in accordance with the present invention, wherein reference numeral 1 denotes a camera main body, 2 an exchangeable objective lens, 3 a quick return type reflection mirror, 4 a focusing glass, 5 a focal plane shutter screen, 6 a winding lever for photosensitive film P, and 7 a film pressure plate.

Upon operating winding lever 6 film pressure plate 7 is rectracted by an operation mechanism described later and shown in FIG. 4, photosensitive film P is transported by a predetermined length, and simultaneously focal plane shutter 5 is cocked. Upon operating release button 8 reflection mirror 3, the upper end of which is pivoted to the main camera body by shaft 3a, is turned clockwise so as to be sprung from its rest position to a picture-taking position rectracted from the op- A tical axis of the objective lens. Simultaneously focal plane shutter screen 5 moves to give an image exposure to photosensitive film P for a certain time and then terminates the exposure, at which time reflection mirror 3 is returned to the rest position by a well-known return mechanism.

The above-mentioned case is an example where the operation mechanism of a single lens reflex camera in which a focal plane shutter is built-in is used; however, a lens shutter can also be used.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a corona discharge device, which is so constructed as to be manually moved up and down along a supporting plate and concurrently along the exposure opening in exposure opening plate 11 (the opening is, for example, 6 cm X 8 cm) and which is guided by guide rail 10. Alternatively it may be moved up and down by a driving means. Numeral l2 denotes a high voltage supply source for corona discharge device 9, which is a high electric voltage generating device composed of a piezoelectric element and an oscillator making use of, for example, 65V as an electric power source. A microswitch 13 is used to open and close the circuit to the voltage source. When switch 13 is located in the normal position of corona discharge device 9, namely, on the lower side of device 9, the lower side face of corona discharge device 9 pushes actuator 13a of microswitch 13 to open the high voltage impressing circuit of high electric voltage supply source 12; when corona discharge device 9 is separated from actuator 13a the high voltage impressing circuit is closed, and corona discharge device 9 starts to discharge.

Main switch 40 of high electric voltage supply source 12 is provided in front of the camera. Numeral 14 de notes a supply spool for photosensitive film P, 15 is a take-up spool, and 16 and 17 are rubber guide rollers disposed between supply spool 14 and take-up spool 15. hotosensitive film P is pressed against the side of the supporting plate and against photographic exposure portion opening plate 11 by means of pressure plate 7 through both rubber rollers 16 and 17 and is disposed to be supported evenly with the image forming plane. Supporting plate 11, in contact with conductive layer f provided on photosensitive film P, is made of a conductive material, so that exposed conductive layer f is grounded. Numeral 18 denotes a conductive rubber roller disposed rotatably confronting with rubber roller 17. As shown in FIG. 4 arm 21, supporting at its one end conductive rubber roller 18, is biased upward by spring 19. The other end of arm 21 is connected to the camera main body by shaft 21a. Thereby conductive rubber roller 18 is pressed into contact with rubber roller 17 by spring 19. Further, an eccentric cam 20,

mounted on a shaft 22b mounted on and passing.

The whole construction of a camera in accordance with the present invention is as described above; however, referring to FIG. 4 the construction of storage portion A for photosensitive film P will be described hereinafter.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 25 denotes a side plate of the film charge portion, part of which forms a portion of the camera main body when storage portion A for the photosensitive film is fitted in camera main body 1. Numeral 26 denotes a side plate on the opposite side, which is disposed inside of the camera main body. Rubber rollers 16 and 17 are respectively fixed rotatably to both side plates 25 and 26, and supply spool 14 for photosensitive film P and take-up spool 15 are respectively connected detachably to both side plates 25 and 26.

Gear 36, fixed to shaft 35 of winding lever 6, is meshed with gear 37, fixed to shaft 39, provided on the side plate, via idle gear 38, which is supported on side plate 25 by a shaft; also to shaft 39, cam 27 having notch 27a is fixed. Therefore, when winding lever 6 is turned clockwise in FIG. 4 cam 27 also is turned clockwise.

Numeral 28 denotes a lever, operated under the control of cam 27, which lever is freely rotated using shaft 28a as a center. One end 28b of lever 28 is engaged with L-shaped piece 29a of retainer 29, fixed to pressure plate 7, and the other end 28c oflever 28 is in contact with cam 27. As a result, when the other end 28c of lever 28 is fitted in notch 27a of cam 27, pressure plate 7 operates in a direction to press photosensitive film P against opening plate 11 by virtue of a spring not shown in FIG. 4. Through the clockwise turning of cam 27 the other end 280 of lever 28 is pressed by the protrusion of notch 27a of cam 27 to turn counterclockwise about shaft 28a against the spring provided on pressure plate 7. Thereby pressure plate 7 is driven away from film P; at this juncture film P is transported by take up spool 15 a predetermined length through the turning of shaft 35.

Numeral 30 denotes a lever for manually separating pressure plate 7 from film P via controlling lever 28.

Lever 30 is connected to side plate 25 by shaft 30c; on one end thereof manual operation handle 30a is provided projectingly to the outside of camera body, and the other end 30b thereof is in contact with lever 28 in a position near end portion 280. Therefore, when operation handle 30a is manually turned counterclockwise to turn lever 30 counterclockwise about shaft 30c, the other end 30b of lever 30 presses the arm of lever 28, so that lever 28 is turned counterclockwise and pressure plate 7 can be manually separated from film P. This mechanism is serviceable when film storage portion A is fitted in camera main body 1 and photosensitive film P is set for the film storage portion A.

Numeral 31 denotes a connection gear for shutter cocking fixed to a shaft 35 projecting to the outside of 1 side plate 26 on the opposite side; when film storage portion A is fitted to camera case body 1, connection gear 31 is meshed with a gear 32, connecting the shutter cocking mechanism and connected to the camera main body side by a shaft.

With the construction as described above it is possible to provide an electronic photographic type camera which is only slightly larger than conventional cameras, for example, a 6X6 single lens reflex camera, and is convenient to carry.

After lever 30 is turned counterclockwise by handle 30a, pressure plate 7 is retracted from the film face through lever 28, and conductive rubber roller 18 is withdrawn from rubber roller 17 by way of cam by turning knob 20a. The film storage portion A then is taken from camera main body 1. When linear objects such as letters, drawings, and the like are photographed the type of photosensitive film P shown in FIG. 1 (A) of FIG. 1 (B) is fitted on supply spool 14 with its tip over rollers 16 and 17 and is connected to take-up spool 15, and thus the film is set.

Next, upon fitting film storage portion A to camera main body 1, connection gear 31 is meshed with gear 32.

This fitting operation can be done under exposure to light.

After the fitting operation is finished, by operating lever 30 with handle 30a photosensitive film P is pressed against opening plate 11 by pressure plate 7 and thus is placed in position for photographing. On the other side, bottom cover 23 is opened, supply spool 22 on which transfer paper T is rolled is cocked, and the tip of paper T is led to transfer paper outlet 33, passing through the clearance between rubber rollers 17 and 18. Then by turning knob 20a to release the control effected by eccentric cam 20, conductive rubber roller 18 is pressed against rubber roller 17 through photosensitive film P and transfer paper T by spring 19; bottom cover 23 then is closed.

Further, in general the shutter cocking is arranged to be done beforehand; however, by turning winding lever 6 to transport photosensitive film P, the shutter cocking is done automatically and thereby preparation for photographing is finished.

Next, when taking a photograph, power switch 40 is put On and corona discharge device 9 is reciprocated up and down manually in FIG. 3 to uniformly charge negatively the surface of PVK film d of photosensitive P. Subsequently, after the object is focused through the focusing glass 4, upon depressing release buttom 8 the image exposure is effected through the operations of reflective mirror 3 and shutter 5, and thereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the object is formed on photosensitive film P and the photographing thereof is finished.

After that, by turning winding lever 6 photosensitive film P on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is taken up by take-up spool 15. At this point, between rubber rollers 17 and 18 the electrostatic latent image on photosensitive film P is transferred onto transfer paper T because conductive layer f on photosensitive film P is in contact with conductive rubber roller 18 through transfer paper T and both bases thereof are grounded. And thus transfer paper T having the transferred electro-static latent image is ejected from outlet 33. Transfer paper T is cut off by edge 34 provided on outlet 33, and by making use of an optional liquid developing device carried together with the camera, for example, a spray type liquid developing device D formed by connecting the developing liquid outlet of spray device 101 containing developing liquid to holding frame 102 for transfer paper T by means of bellows means 103 as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the electrostatic latent image is developed to a visible image. For this purpose, transfer paper T is inserted into holding frames 102 of developing device D, and bellows means 103 is extended and spray device 101 is operated (see FIG. 58).

After the final photographing is finished and all of photosensitive film P is taken up by take-up spool 15 by operating handle 30a and knob 20a as described above, film storage portion A can be taken out, and using the winding spool as a supply spool to again prepare for photographing as described above; photosensitive film P can be repeatedly used from 5,000 to 10,000 times.

Moreover, by providing a rewinding means on supply spool 14 as is well known it is possible to make removal of film storage portion A unnecessary when rewinding photosensitive film P.

In the camera in accordance with the present invention, even in the case where the photosensitive film shown in FIG. 1 (A) and (B) is charged, when it is required to take a photograph of an object having half tones, such as a landscape, or the like it is possible to photo-graph by exchanging the photosensitive film for the photo-sensitive film shown in FIG. 1 (C) or FIG. 1 (D). By operating lever 30 with handle 30a and eccentric cam 20 with knob 20a film storage portion A is removed from camera main body 1 and the photosensitive film is taken up.

As described above, the present invention is based on the TESI method for transferring a latent image by using a special photosensitive film such as shown in FIGS. 1 (A), (B), (C), and (D), which has a different photosensitive mechanism than the prior art, and by using a transfer paper shown in FIG. 2, and is able to provide a very clear copy of high contrast and of high resolving power as compared with the prior art. Also a clear copy is provided which is quite free of background contamination and reproduces half tones faithfully. The transfer paper is removed from the camera main body with the electrostatic latent image remaining thereon in interlocking with a certain winding operation for the photosensitive film. The present invention makes use of a piezo-electric element high voltage gen erating means provided with a piezoelectric oscillator using a battery as a power source, as a high voltage electric power source for the corona discharge device; therefore, it is possible to provide a very small size and light weight electrophotographic camera as compared with the prior art, which is useful as a portable electrophotographic camera.

What is claimed is:

1. An. electrophotographic type portable camera, comprising:

an exposure frame through which is projected an image;

a corona discharge device movable along and facing said exposure frame;

piezo-electric means for generating an oscillatory signal for discharging said corona discharge device;

means for supplying a flexible electrophotographic photosensitive film to said exposure frame to receive the image projected therefrom;

means for transporting a flexible transfer paper having a dielectric film surface into contacting relationship with said photosensitive film;

a photosensitive film charge device detachably mounted to the camera body and including,

said means for supplying a flexible electrophotographic photosensitive film,

a pressure plate movable between an operating position and a rest position;

means for biasing said pressure plate to said operating position for pressing said photosensitive film to said exposure frame,

means for retaining said pressure plate at said rest position; and

an electrically conductive roller for pressing said photosensitive film and said transfer paper into contacting relationship for transferring an electrical latent image from said photosensitive film to said transfer paper.

2. An electrophotographic type portable camera as 10 set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a lever for pivotally mounting said electrically conductive roller and rotatably mounted to the camera body; I

means for biasing said lever so that said electrically conductive roller presses said transfer paper and said photosensitive film into contacting relationship;

a manually operable cam member rotatably pivoted to the camera body for retaining said lever against said spring;

a first gear rotatably mounted on the camera body for cocking the camera shutter means; and

a second gear meshing with said first gear and driven by said first gear for transporting said photosensitive film.

3. An electrophotographic type portable camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exposure frame comprises an electrically conductive material, and said corona discharge device is slidably supported on guide means mounted parallel with said exposure frame and movable between one end and the other end of said exposure frame.

4. An electrophotographic type portable camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said photosensitive film comprises a film base and at least three layers having a conductive layer as the lowermost layer, a polyvinyl carbazole layer as the uppermost layer and a photosensitive layer between said two layers. 

1. An electrophotographic type portable camera, comprising: an exposure frame through which is projected an image; a corona discharge device movable along and facing said exposure frame; piezo-electric means for generating an oscillatory signal for discharging said corona discharge device; means for supplying a flexible electrophotographic photosensitive film to said exposure frame to receive the image projected therefrom; means for transporting a flexible transfer paper having a dielectric film surface into contacting relationship with said photosensitive film; a photosensitive film charge device detachably mounted to the camera body and including, said means for supplying a flexible electrophotographic photosensitive film, a pressure plate movable between an operating position and a rest position; means for biasing said pressure plate to said operating position for pressing said photosensitive film to said exposure frame, means for retaining said pressure plate at said rest position; and an electrically conductive roller for pressing said photosensitive film and said transfer paper into contacting relationship for transferring an electrical latent image from said photosensitive film to said transfer paper.
 2. An electrophotographic type portable camera as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a lever for pivotally mounting said electrically conductive roller and rotatably mounted to the camera body; means for biasing said lever so that said electrically conductive roller presses said transfer paper and said photosensitive film into contacting relationship; a manually operable cam member rotatably pivoted to the camera body for retaining said lever against said spring; a first gear rotatably mounted on the camera body for cocking the camera shutter means; and a second gear meshing with said first gear and driven by said first gear for transporting said photosensitive film.
 3. An electrophotographic type portable camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said exposure frame comprises an electrically conductive material, and said corona discharge device is slidably supported on guide means mounted parallel with said exposure frame and movable between one end and the other end of said exposure frame.
 4. An electrophotographic type portable camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein said photosensitive film comprises a film base and at least three layers having a conductive layer as the lowermost layer, a polyvinyl carbazole layer as the uppermost layer and a photosensitive layer between said two layers. 